Microwave engineering and antennas

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/microwave-antenna

Introduction

### Course Review: Microwave Engineering and Antennas #### Overview In today’s fast-evolving technological landscape, the significance of microwave engineering and antenna systems cannot be overstated. The **"Microwave Engineering and Antennas"** course offered on **Coursera**, designed at a master’s level, stands as a gateway for aspiring engineers to delve deep into both passive and active microwave circuits alongside antenna technologies. Developed by esteemed experts from the Eindhoven University of Technology and the Center for Wireless Technology Eindhoven, this course not only emphasizes theoretical foundations but also provides hands-on experience with practical design challenges. #### Course Highlights 1. **Expert Instructors**: Having a solid academic and industrial background, the instructors introduce the course effectively in a promotional video, highlighting its relevance in upcoming technological advancements such as millimeter-wave 5G technologies and automotive radar. 2. **Hands-On Design Challenges**: One of the most appealing aspects of this course is the practical component, where students engage in a design challenge. This real-world application allows participants to develop a 4-channel phased array system, culminating in a comprehensive understanding of microwave electronics integrated with antenna systems. 3. **Open-Source Tools**: The course utilizes QUCS (Quite Universal Circuit Simulator), an open-source design tool that empowers participants to design both passive and active microwave circuits, fostering a hands-on learning experience that few courses provide. #### Weekly Breakdown - **Week 1**: The course kicks off with an introduction and an exploration of passive microwave circuits, particularly focusing on transmission line theory. The initial design challenge is introduced here, setting the tone for practical learning. - **Weeks 2 & 3**: The focus remains on passive circuits, delving deeper into microwave networks and the Smith chart, while also introducing microwave filter design—key components in microwave engineering. - **Weeks 4 to 6**: Participants transition to Antenna Theory. The course covers critical concepts such as directivity, gain, and impedance. Antenna design tools and theoretical foundations from Maxwell's equations further enrich the learning experience. - **Weeks 7 & 8**: The final sections concentrate on active microwave circuits, including design methodologies for low-noise amplifiers. Stability conditions and optimization strategies for amplifier performance complete this extensive journey. #### Recommendations This course is highly recommended for bachelor’s graduates, engineers, and technical professionals keen on advancing their expertise in microwave engineering and antenna systems. With the growing demand for integrated antenna and microwave electronics in 5G and beyond, this course positions participants advantageously in the job market. **Pros**: - Comprehensive syllabus covering both theory and practical application. - Insightful learning from experienced instructors engaged in cutting-edge research. - Hands-on experience with design tools and real-world challenges. **Cons**: - The course is intensive, requiring a significant time commitment. - Participants may need a basic foundation in electrical engineering to maximize their understanding. #### Conclusion Overall, the **"Microwave Engineering and Antennas"** course offers an excellent opportunity for learners to immerse themselves in the intricacies of microwave technology through a blend of theoretical knowledge and practical skills. It stands as an essential resource for those looking to make significant contributions to future wireless communication technologies. If you're serious about shaping the future of radio frequency applications, this course is undoubtedly worth your investment.

Syllabus

Promo

In this short video the lecturers will introduce themselves and will provide a general overview of the scope of the course. The lecturers all have a solid academic and industrial background and are embedded in the Center for Wireless Technology Eindhoven (CWT/e) of Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands.

In week 1 we will provide you with an introduction to the course including an overview of applications (Module 1). In addition, we will start with Passive Microwave Circuits (Module 2) by introducing transmission line theory. We will also introduce the design-challenge in which you will develop your own 4-channel phased array system including beamformer and active microwave electronics. Next to this, we will show you how to use the open-source design tool QUCS. We will use this tool for the design of passive and active microwave circuits.

In week 2 we will continue with Passive Microwave Circuits (Module 2) by introducing the concept of microwave networks. We will use this concept by analyzing power combiners. In addition, you will start your design challenge by designing a 4-channel beamformer network.

In week 3 we will finalize our journey into Passive Microwave Circuits (Module 2) by first introducing the Smith chart and by applying it for the design of matching circuits. Next to this, we will show how you can design microwave filters.

In week 4 we will start with Antenna Theory (Module 3) and introduce the concept of antennas by exploring the main characteristics of antennas, including directivity, antenna gain and input impedance. We will show how these parameters can be used to determine the range of wireless system or radar. As a first real antenna concept, we will introduce phased-array antennas. In addition, the design challenge will continue with an antenna design. This includes an introduction into the antenna design CST.

In this week the real hard-core theoretical antenna framework is presented. Starting from Maxwell's equations we will derive the general expression for the radiated fields by any antenna configuration. The framework will be applied to the electric dipole and wire antennas. In addition, your will participate in a workshop that introduces a state-of-the-art antenna design tool.

In this week we will extend our theoretical framework with magnetic sources. In this way, you can use the framework to analyze aperture antennas. We will show this by analyzing horn antennas, reflector antennas and microstrip antennas. We will also show how microstrip antennas can be used to create a phased-array system. We will finalize the week by providing you with some background knowledge in numerical methods. This will help you to understand the underlying principles of numerical electromagnetics used in commercial tools such as ADS and CST.

In this week we will extend the theory on microwave circuits towards active circuits which make use of transistors to realize amplifiers. We will start by introducing the various definitions which are used to describe the gain of an amplifier. As a next step we will present a design methodology for low-noise amplifiers. You will also start with the last part of your design challenge by designing a low-noise amplifier.

In the last week of the course we will dive deeper into the design of microwave amplifiers by exploring by exploring the stability conditions of amplifiers. When stability is secured, the amplifier performance can be further optimized by proper design of the input and output matching circuits. For this purpose the concept of constant-gain circles can be used.